Circulate the Comfort – Summertime Use Of Your Ceiling Fan

Something many people don’t realize is just how beneficial ceiling fans are during the summer months. When the weather heats up, circulating air creates the effect of a natural breeze that increases the rate of evaporation when you perspire. The more evaporation, the cooler you feel — even without lowering your thermostat. This simple wind chill effect can make a room feel up to 4 degrees cooler, helping you stay comfortable while reducing cooling costs.

Ceiling fans can also help alleviate uneven temperatures between floors. Many multi story homes are significantly warmer upstairs than downstairs during the summer. Mounting a ceiling fan at the top of the stairs helps mix the air more effectively and keeps comfort more uniform throughout the home.

Another benefit for families with smokers or smoking guests is that a ceiling fan can help move smoke away from the center of a room and toward the outer walls where people are less likely to gather. This also works for cooking odors.

Virtually all ceiling fans made nowadays come with a reverse switch set for an upward airflow. A helpful tip for checking your fan’s summer setting is to stand directly underneath it and blow some bubbles with the fan running. (Or have a child do it if you’d rather not!). If they blow outward toward the walls, you’re set for wintertime. If the bubbles go straight down, your fan is set correctly for summer.

Ceiling fans are one of the most energy efficient appliances you’ll find in a home. The most efficient models cost little more to run than a 100 watt light bulb — just pennies a day — making them an excellent complement to your air conditioning system.

Ceiling Fan Quick Facts

Energy Efficiency: Use fans to reduce the load on the AC unit.

Air Distribution: Eliminate hot and cold spots in a room.

Cost Savings: Lower utility bills through better circulation.

For summertime use, the fan should be set to downward airflow, creating that cooling breeze effect. Choose the speed that feels most comfortable — higher speeds typically provide the strongest cooling sensation. With the summertime setting, ceiling fans rotate counterclockwise. The blade angle forces air down, and once it hits the floor, it naturally moves outward toward the walls. This is what you feel as a cooling breeze.